Governor signs proclamation declaring December as “Virginia National Guard Appreciation and Recognition Month”

Governor Bob McDonnell ceremonially signs a proclamation Dec. 7, 2012, designating December as “Virginia National Guard Appreciation and Recognition Month” in the Commonwealth of Virginia at a ceremony in Richmond. Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker and Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Long, Jr., the Adjutant General of Virginia, joined McDonnell in recognizing members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia Defense Force.

For the first time since 9/11, all Virginia Army Guard and Air Guard units are home for the holidays, though about six Soldiers and Airmen are still on federal active duty in Afghanistan and other locations around the world. Since September 11, 2001, the Virginia National Guard has successfully mobilized more than 15,000 Soldiers and Airmen for missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and other locations across the world as well as homeland defense missions in the United States.

Since 2001, the Virginia National Guard has called up more than 7,300 personnel for state active duty to support state and local emergency response organizations as part of a coordinated state-wide response, as well as missions in Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia and Vermont.

Read the full text of the proclamation at go.usa.gov/gQnx.